Type-writing machine.



Patented'A'ug. e, 190|.

2 sheets-sheet m5 Norms PETERS co., Fuero-uma.. wAsHmoYoN. n. c.

v5 ATT D RNEY No. 679,954. Patented Aug. 6, |90I.

H. E. CURTIS.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

(Application led July 5, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

. M/ITNEEEES- INVENTUR. /fd/(ZWW- am w H15 ATTDRNEY I nu, A `V UNITED STATES I-IENRY E. CURTIS, OF NEV YORK, N.

Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE YOS'I lVRITING MACHINE COMPANY, OF ILION, NEV YORK.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming' part 0f Letters Patent No. 679,954, dated August 6,' 1901.

Application led July 5, 1900.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY E. CURTIS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, city of New York,

Y in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-Writing Machines, of which the following is a speciication.

Myinvention relates principally to the type lo movements of writing-machines; and its objects are to provide novel means for carrying the types from normal to printing position and. to provide a novel center-guide therefor.

Other objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists in certain features of construction, arrangements of parts, and combinations of devices, all as Will be presently fullydescribed,and particularly pointed ont in the concluding claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section taken about centrally of a type-writing machine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a similar section', on an enlarged scale, of the frame upon 25 which the type-bars and radial levers are supported and guided. Fig. 3 is an enlarged edge view of the upper end of a type-carrying lever, the type-socket being shown in section. Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective View of the 3o type carrying andv guiding device provided upon the end of the type-bar. Fig. 5 is an enlarged side view of a type-bar.

In the several views parts are omitted or broken away to clearly exhibit the invention,

35 and similar parts are indicated by similar numerals of reference.

1 designates a rectangularhorizontal plate having downwardly-directed iianges 2, said plate and an ges taken together forming the 4o base of the machine. Upon posts 3 rising from said plate is secured a circular framework 4, which is slotted radially for the typebars and radial levers and is su rmounted by a cap-ring 5. Finger-keys 6 are mounted upon vertical 45 stems 7, which are guided in aslotted and perforated frame 8. At its lower end each keystem is slotted at 9 to engage the forward end of a horizontal lever 10 of the first order, which is fulcrnmed in a slotted stud 11, de-

5o pending from the under side of the plate 1 and at its rear end passes through an eye Serial No. 22,581. (No model.)

formed in the lower end of a vertical link 12, the latter passing up through a perforation 13 in plate 1 and being pivoted at its upper end at 14 to a radially-arranged lever 15. .The 5-5 levers 15 are placed iu radial slots 16, formed in the frame 4, and are strung upon a horizontal annular fulcrum-wire 17, suitably fixed in said frame. Each lever 15 extends radially outward fromthe fulcrum 17 beyond `6o the pivotal connection 14 and then upwardly and at its upper end is pivotally connected at 18 to an inwardly-extending diagonal link 19, which extends through a slot 20, provided in the vertical wall of the frame 4, and whose 6`5`` upper end is pivoted at 21 to a depending radially-arranged arm or lever 22. The levers 22 are slotted at their upper ends at 23 to engage a horizontal annular fulcrum-wire 24,v which is supported in the said frame 4, the lat- 7o`. ter being also provided with radial slots 25 to receive the hubs of said levers, which are prevented from jumping off the wire by the capring 5. To the lower end of each lever 22 is pivoted at 26 the outer end of a radial link 27, 7'5 whose inner end is pivoted at 2S to a type-bar, which is generally designated as 29 and consists, essentially, of three spider-like arms, the lower one, 30, of which is slotted lengthwise, as at 31, the middle one, 32, of which 8o curves upwardly and then inwardly and is also slotted throughout its length at 33, and the upper one, 34, of which is provided with a type-carrying yoke device 35, having ears 36, which clasp the end of the arm 34 85` and are riveted thereto, and also havnga tapering type-socket 37, the type itself being designated as 38 and havinga tapering shank to fit said socket. The arm of the typebar Works in the radial slot 16, formed in the 9o frame 4, and has a swinging and sliding movement upon a horizontal annular Wire 39, fixed upon said frame. The arm 32 thereof works in a slot 40, which is formed in the side of adome-like portion 41, arranged centrally 95A of the frame 14, said slot 40 being a continuation of the slot 16 and. said arm 32 turning and sliding upon a horizontal annular fulcrum-ring 42, surrounding the lower portion of the dome 41 and concentric with the ring roo 39. Thus it will be seen that the slotted type-carrying lever 29 is provided with lateral guides located at or near the two fixed points 39 and 42, upon which the lever moves.

Extending upwardly from `the dome is a fixed cylindrical type-guiding pin 43, whose axis is in the same vertical line with the printing point and whose top extends to within a short distance of the lower surface of a cylindrical platen 44. The lower end of the pin 43 is driven down into the bore 45 of a vertical tubular boss 46, formed integrally with said dome and extending downwardly centrally thereof, a stop 47 being provided upon said pin to prevent it from being driven too far into the bore.

The platen 44 is mounted upon an endwisetraveling carriage 48,'which is provided with a rack 49, in mesh with a pinion 50, the latter being connected to an escapement-wheel 5l by a horizontal shaft mounted in a housing 5 2. A stepping-dog 53 and a detenta-dog 54 cooperate with said escapement-wheel, said dogs being mounted upon a rocker 55, journaled at 56 in a bracket 57 and having a rearwardly-extending crank-arm 58, the latter 'being connected by a vertical link 59 to the rear arm of ahorizontal lever 60, pivotedA between its ends upon a stud 6l, depending from the plate l.. The forward end of said lever engages an eye 62, formed in the lower end of a vertical rod 63, which passes up through a perforation in the plate 1 and at its upper end slides in the bore of the boss 46. A horizontal annular universal bar 64 is secured upon said rod by a screw 65 and normally lies just beneath a series of inwardlyextending radial arms 66, formed integrally with the levers l5, said arms being curved downwardly and upwardly to afford a clearance for the arms 30 of the type-bars.

Upon the depression of a key 6 the forward end of its lever lO swings downwardly about shown in dotted lines at Fig. l or until thel the fulcrum l1 and the rear end thereof swings upwardly, lifting the link l2 and vibrating the lever l5 upwardly about the fulcrum 17. Through the link 19 the arm 22 is swung inwardly and upwardly about the fulcrum 24 and by means of the link 27 drives the typebar 29. The movement of said type-bar at first is an inward vibratoryor swinging movement about the fulcrum 39, the type-bar turning upon a pivotal point 3la at the upper end of the yslot 3l until it is about in the position bend in the slot 33 is in engagement with the ring 4,2, the movement of the type-bar thereafter being a sliding and turning movement inwardly and upwardly in a direction determined by the slot 3l, working upon the fixed point 39, and the inner end portion of the slot 33, working upon the fixed point42. In other words, the type-bar first swings upon the axis 39 (the outer portion of the slot 33 being cut concentrically to said axis) and then slides inwardly and upwardly upon the fulcrums 39 and 42. When the type has reached a point about three-sixteenths of an inch below the platen, a lateral engagement is effected betweenthe type-bar 29 and the guiding-pin 43, the hollow or yoke-like type-carrier 35 closely embracing said pin, whereby the type is directed accurately to the printing-center. The inner extremity of the slot 33 in the type-bar is somewhat widened, as at 33a, Fig. 5, so as to playfreely upon the ring 42, or at least so as not to bear thereagainst when the type is in proximity to the platen, so that the inward pressure exerted upon the type-bar by the link 27 is sustained only'by the fulcrum-wire 39 and the guiding-pin 43, thus causing the type-guiding yoke or shoe 35 to press against said pin with sufficient force to insure a positive lit of the shoe thereon and bringing the type into perfect register, said force not being so great, however, as to interfere with the free movement of the type-bar. It will be understood that the working face of the yoke or shoe 35 is cut concentrically with the typesocket and with pin 43 and that the working faces of the shoes or semitubular guides 35 are arranged radially of said guide-pin, so that they coperate with dierent portions or sides of the latter, considered circumferentially.

During the described vibration of the lever `15 the rearwardly-extending arm 66 thereof descends and carries down the universal bar 64 and rod 63, the latter causing a vibration of the lever 60, whereby the link 59 is lifted and the dog-rocker 55 swung forwardly, permitting the stepping-dog 53 to escape from the wheel 51, the latter being simultaneously engaged by the detent 54, so that no movement of the escapement-wheel occurs at this time.

Upon the relief of the linger-key from pressure a spring 67, provided upon the dogrocker, swings the latter to normal position, and thereby permits an advance movement of the escapement-wheel and carriage under the influence of a spring-dauin (not shown) ina well-known manner. At the same time the link 59 is driven downwardly, and by means of the lever 60 the rod 63, together with the universal bar thereon, is driven upwardly, thus causing a return vibration of the arn166 and lever l5 and restoring to normal position the link 19, lever 22, link 27, and type-bar 29, as well as the link l2,lever 10, and finger-key 6. Individual vreturning-springs, if desired, may beprovided for each type movement; but as such springs are common it is' not deemed necessary to illustrate them.

It will be seen that the type is normally in contact with an annular inking-pad 68, similar to that in use in the well-known Yost machine, the force of the type when in contact Vwith the pad being at an angle to its printing position. Although I prefer to use the several features of my invention in connection with such a pad, they are applicable in whole or in part to machines in which an inkingribbon is arranged between the type'and the platen. Obviously the guiding-pin 43 may be dispensed with, if deemed desirable, and

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the novel type-bar movement may be used in connection with a perforated directriX or center type-guide, as in the Yost machine; but I prefer to use the said pin in connection with the guiding yokes or shoes upon the typebars, because it is extremely simple and positive in operation.

While I have shown my invention as applied to an under-strike machine, it isobvious that the type movement or center-guide, or both, may be applied to a top-strike or frontstrike machine. Other type-bar movements may be used in connection with-the novel center-guide, and if the latter' is used with a front-strike machine it is obvious that it will have special advantages,inasmuch as it would positively guide the type to the printing-point without obscuring the View of the writing or interfering with the correction of errors.

So far as certain features of my invention are concerned the arms 22 may be lengthcned and provided directly with types, and hence may be regarded as type-operating levers.

Various other changes in details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In atype-writing machine, the combination of a platen, a slotted type-carryinglever working upontwo fixed points, and a finger'- key operatively connected to said lever.

2. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a platen, aslotted type-carrying lever Working upon two fixed points and constructed to first turn upon one of said points and to then slide upon both of said points, and a ngerkey operatively connected to said type-bar.

3. In a type-writing' machine, the combination of a platen, a slotted type-carrying lever working upon two fixed points, lateral guides for said type-bar at said points,'and a ngerkey operatively connected to said type-bar.

4. In a type-Writing machine, the combination of a platen, two concentric rings, a series of type-bars working in guide-slots, each bar being provided with slotted portions to engage said rings, and a series of finger-keys operatively connected to said type-bars.

5. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a platen, a circular framework provided with radial slots, two concentric rings supported upon said framework, a series of type-bars working Within the slots in said framework and provided with slotted portions for engaging said rings, and a series of tingerkeys operatively1 connected to said type-bars.

6. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a platen, two fixed concentric rings, a series of radial type-bars, each of which has two arms for engaging said rings, and a series of keys operatively connected to said typebars.

7. In a type-Writing machine, the combination of a platema type-bar comprising three spider-arms, a type secured upon the end of one ot said arms, slots provided in the other two arms, fixed points upon the machine engaged by said slots, and a finger-key operatively connected to said type-bar.

8. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a platen, a fixed pivot, a type-bar provided with a slot having a pivotal portion which normally engages said fixed pivot, said type-bar being also provided with a separate curved slot, a portion whereof is cnt concentrically to said fixed pivot, means for engaging said separate curved slot, and a key operatively connected to said type-bar.

l9. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a platen, 4a type-bar which both turns and slides upon .fixed pointsin the machine and which is wholly supported upon said xed points, and a key operatively connected to said type-bar. l

10. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a platen, a slot-ted type-carrying bar working upon two fixed points, an inking-pad with which the type on said bar contacts, and

a finger-key operatively connected to said type-bar.

1l. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a platen, a slotted type-bar which constantly engages two fixed points, upon one of which it turns and upon both of which it slides, an inking-pad with which the type on said bar contacts, the face of said type when in contact with said pad being at an angle to its printing position, anda key connected to said type-bar.

12. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a platen, a series of radially-arranged type-bars Working upon fixed points, and a series of radially-arranged drivingarms connected to said type-bars.

13. In a type-writing machine, the combition of a platen, a series of radially-arranged type-bars working upon fixed points, a series of radially-arranged driving-arms, and a series of links connecting said driving-arms to said type-bars.

14. In atype-writing machine, the combination of a platen, slotted type-bars 29 having fixed pivots, links 27, pivoted arms 22, links 19, pivoted levers 15, links 12, and keylevers 10.

15. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a platen, a set of slotted type-bars having fixed pivots, a set of drive-links 27 therefor, a set of radially-arranged type-operating levers 22 connected to said links 27, a set of radially-arranged levers 15, links 19 connecting said sets of levers, links 12, and key-levers engaged by said links.

16. In a type-Writing machine, the combination of a platen, a carriage, a set of radial type-operating levers, a set of key-levers, a series of levers intermediate said sets of levers, a universal bar operated directly by said intermediate levers, and a carriage escapement mechanism connected to said universal bar.

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17. In a type-Writing machine, thecombination of a platen, a carriage, a setof radial type-operating levers, a set of key-levers, a series of radial levers intermediate said sets of levers and havin g inwardly-extending arms, a centrally-arranged universal bar directly operated by said inwardly-extending arms, and a carriage escapement mechanism connected to said universal bar.

1-8. In a type-Writing machine, the combination of a platen, a carriage, a set of radially-arranged type-operating levers, links 19, levers 15 having arms 66, links l2, key- 'levers 10, universal bar 64, and a carriage escapement mechanism connected to said universal bar.

V19. In a type-Writing machine, the combination of a platen, a carriage, a series of typebars, and a fixed guiding-pin whose axis coincides With the printing-point.

20. In a type-Writing machine, the combi-Q nation of a platen, aguiding-pinvarranged in proximity to the printing-point, and a typebar constructed to have a lateral engagement proximity to the printing-point, a series of type-bars, a yoke provided upon each typebar for engaging said guiding-pin, and means for causing said yoke to slide upon said pin during the final portion of the printing-stroke of the type-bar. t

23. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a platen, a guiding-pin arranged in proximity to the printing-point, a series of bars, a type-socket provided upon each typebar, and a curved yoke provided upon each type-bar concentric with said type-socket.

24. In a type-Writing machine, the combination of a platen, a guiding-pin arranged in proximity to the printing-point, a series of bars, a type-socket provided upon each typebar, and a curved yoke provided upon each type-bar concentric with said type-socket, said yoke and socket being formed integrally and attached to the type-bar. l

25. In a type-Writing machine, the combination of a platen, a slotted type-bar constructed to slide and turn, a guiding-pin arranged in proximity to the printing-point, and a device upon said type-bar which forks said guiding-pin.

- 26. In a type-writing machine, the combi- Vnation of a platen, alslotted type-bar con- VWork, a fulcrum-ring, a series of type-bars arranged in the slots in said framework and having slots to engage said fulcrum-ring, a center guiding-pin fixed upon said frame- Work, and yokes upon said type-bars for en gaging said guiding-pin.

2S. In a type-Writing machine, the combination of a platen, a slotted type-carrying lever working upon t-Wo fixed points, a'ceuter guiding-pin, means upon said type-bar for engaging said pin, and a finger-key operatively connected to said type-carrying lever.

29. In a type-Writing machine, the combination of a platen, a slotted type-carrying bar, an inking-pad With which the type on said bar contacts, a center guiding-pin, means upon said bar for engaging said guiding-pin, and a inger-key operatively connected to said type-carrying bar.

30. In a type-Writing machine, the combination of a platen, aguiding-pin arranged in line With the printing-point, and a series of type-barseach provided with means for partially embracing said pin and guiding the type to the printing-point.

3l. In a type-Writing machine, the combination of a platen, a cylindrical guiding-pin arranged in line with the printing-point, and a series of type-bars having curved shoes, each of which is arranged to partially embrace said pin at different radial points or portions and guide the type to the printingpoint.

32. In a type-Writing machine, the combination of a platen, a guiding-pin arrangediin line with the printing-point, a series of typebars having means for partially embracing said guiding-pin, a set of driving-levers, as 22, a set of connecting-links as 27, a set of sublevers as 15, a set of connecting-links as 19,a set of key-levers as 10, and a set of connecting-links as 12.

Signed at the borough of Manhattan, city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 3d day of July, A. D. 1900.

HENRY E. CURTIS.

Witnesses:

K. V. DONOVAN, FLORENCE KEELING.

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